Sometimes an idea or two is just what you need to get out of a home-improvement rut, or to at least kick-start a languishing home project.

At the annual Seattle Home Show 2, which runs Thursday through Oct. 9, visitors with a do-it-yourself project can ask the Master Builders Association for tips, view a counter made of recycled stone at the Environmental Home Center booth or even check out a system to turn on a stove with a call from a cellphone.

While some products are high-end, even the budget-conscious should find useful tips and reasonably priced products for their home projects.

The show at Qwest Field Event Center, 800 Occidental Ave. S. in Seattle, will feature nearly 500 exhibits related to home and garden, as well as seminars and demonstrations.

Visitors will see trends in Pacific Northwest design style, including all-natural materials, green design and environmentally friendly products, as well as the latest in technology for the home.

Here are just a few of the companies at Home Show 2 that may appeal to the do-it-yourselfer who doesn't want to spend a fortune.

Environmental Home Center

Seattle Home Show 2


When: Thursday-Oct. 9

Where: Qwest Field Event Center, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 9

Admission: $9 adults, $6 seniors, $3 juniors (6-15). A discount coupon is available online at www2.seattlehomeshow.com

Parking: Parking is available at the Qwest Field garage, the Qwest Field north lot, Safeco Field garage and the Union Station garage. If you carpool with four or more, park for free in designated lots or take free Metro weekend shuttle buses from the Northgate Park and Ride (Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 112th Street), South Bellevue Park and Ride (Bellevue Way and 112th Avenue Southeast) or South Renton Park and Ride (South Grady Way and Shattuck Avenue South).

The Environmental Home Center's booth will include two kinds of counters made from recycled materials.

The paper in the counters made by another manufacturer, PaperStone, includes 50 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

PaperStone also uses cashew nut, oil-based resin instead of a plastic resin in the counters, said Lisa DiMartino, Environmental Home Center's marketing vice president.

The Environmental Home Center will feature American Pride paint, a low-odor paint that has no volatile organic compounds and is made with less petroleum.

The paint costs from $19.49 for ceiling paint to $29.99 for a semigloss.

The Environmental Home Center also will be showing its new line of hardwood floors made from Argentinean eucalyptus.

The line is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council, which guarantees the wood is from a well-managed forest. It costs $4.29 a foot, DiMartino said.

Tile for Less

At the Tile for Less booth, check out a coil system to keep tiles — and toes — toasty when you get out of the shower. The coil system works with any tile made with natural materials and averages $6.50 to $7.50 per foot, said owner Phil Stalcup.

The booth also will carry granite mini slabs, which cost half as much as custom cutting granite countertops to size; glass tiles in colorful mosaics; and stainless-steel tiles.

Tile for Less also has travertine tile from Turkey, a natural stone similar to marble, available for $4.99 a square foot.

Master Builders Association

Store locations


If you can't catch them at Home Show 2, here's where to find exhibitors locally:

The Environmental Home Center: 4121 First Ave. S, Seattle, 206-682-7332, www.environmentalhomecenter.com.

Tile for Less: 2440 First Ave. S., Seattle, 206-623-7728; or 12305 120th Ave. N.E., Kirkland, 425-820-4400. www.tileforless.com.

Master Builders Association: 335 116th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, 425-451-7920. www.mba-ks.com.

Bath Fitter: 6900 220th St. S.W., Suite A, Mountlake Terrace, 425-712-8268; or 22016 68th Ave. S., Kent. 253-872-6898. www.bathfitter.com

Art Attack: 206-546-7046

Squak Mountain Stone countertops use low-toxin sealers and include several kinds of recycled material such as crushed glass dust and mixed wastepaper. The counters, which look like soapstone, are made in Woodinville.

If you're looking for advice rather than products, head over to the booth for the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The booth will be staffed by remodelers who can help with questions about insulation, your deck or any other remodeling topic, said spokesman Dan Klusman.

Master Builders Association is also sponsoring a Built Green booth, where visitors can ask about environmentally friendly residential construction, look at recycled plastic lumber and view demonstration projects on the Built Green Web site.

Bath Fitter

Installing a new bathtub can be a huge hassle, and those who want another option might want to visit the Bath Fitter booth.

Bath Fitter offers a glove-like acrylic covering for a bathtub or shower and its walls to freshen up an old bathroom. The acrylic liner can be installed over old tile.

Art Attack

Debra Winger makes art more affordable with her original mixed-media collages, which will be at the Home Show. The framed collages, which include handmade paper, Chinese calligraphy and silk fabrics, run from $28 to $789.

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com